National Environmental Policy

This week the Environmental Protection Agency denied California's efforts--and the subsequent efforts of numerous other states--to set more  stringent standards for automobile emissions than those established by the federal government.  According to state Attorney General Jerry Brown, this was the first time the government has denied such a request from California, of approximately 50 attempts.

EPA administrator Stephen Johnson argued that the government wanted to avoid creating a confusing "patchwork" of state environmental laws, in favor of uniform national standards.  On the same day the EPA denied California's request, President Bush signed the first enhancement in emission standards in approximately 30 years.  But those enhancements are less stringent than California's, which helps the automobile companies and consumers; easier standards make for less expensive production costs.

If I thought the Bush administration sincerely wanted national environmental standards, this wouldn't be such a concern.  But Republicans typically value the right of individual states to chart their own course, while Democrats extol the virtues of national policies.  So the EPA's argument feels disingenuous; the boon to car makers is the real story behind denying California's request.  Even though the tougher emissions standards the President signed this week will make a difference, those standards could have been even tougher for cars in my current home state.